Wire-stretcher.



PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

W. s; REED. WIRE STRETG-HER.

APPLICATION FILEDAUG. 25. 1900. RENEWED AUG. 1. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

wzgnesses No. 742,903. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

W. S. REED.

WIRE STRBTGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25. 1900. RENEWED AUG. 1. 1902.

no MODEL, 2 snmns-snnm 2.

ZZZ/Vernier fiki km {$144) Patented November 3, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

\VILLIAM S. REED, OF TURTLECREEK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. OF FIVE- EIGI-ITHS TO JOHN D. FRY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND EWING MATTHEWS, OF AGNEW, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 742,903, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed August 25, 1900. Renewed August 1 1902. Serial No. 118,003- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. REED, acitizen of the United States, residing at Turtlecreek, in the county of Allegheny and State 5 of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in WVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices adapted to extend or stretch wire, as for fencing, trolleyl conductors, or other purposes.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple and efficient device adapted to accomplish this object and at the same time to produce a device by the use of which the separable ends of two wires may be connected and held taut until the repair-man splices or secures the same together.

Another object of my invention is to enable a workman to progressively stretch a wire-4. e.

to hold the wire tight and prevent it slipping back at every successive stretching thereof; and to these ends my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter specifically described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 indicates a side elevation of my improved wire-stretcher. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line A B of Fig. 1 looking to the left. Fig. 4: is a section taken on the line C D of Fig. 1 looking to the right. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lever end of my apparatus.

5 Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of my apparatus. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing extensibility ofthe shank.

Referring to said drawings, 1 is a shank or bar, the ends, respectively, of which are provided with upwardly-projecting members or prongs 2 and 3, in which or between which, respectively,indirect alinement are j ournaled or secured the wire-grasping jaws 4 4 and 5 5.

5 The said jaws comprise two verticallyarranged segmenral-shaped blocks, the grasping-faces 7 of which are serrated or corrugated and are kept normally closed by the tension of springs 8. A short distance from the upwardly-projecting members or prongs 2, in which the jaws 4 4 are secured, a guide 9 is secured upon or made part of said bar or shank. A lever 10 is pivoted between said members or prongs 2 and guide 9, the bar having an oblong slot or opening 12, substantially the width of the shank, in'which the said lever is pivoted upon the short studs 13, which project from each side of said lever into the slots formed on the interior surface of side walls of said opening. of said leveris bifurcated, in the members of which graspingjaws 14: 14 similar to those located in the members or prongs are secured, the said jaws being retained normally closed by the tension of the spring 15.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the shank or bar with the guide 9 omitted, and in Fig. 7 I have 'shown the same to be-extensible, one part being projected in a'slot a and adapted to slide and be extended therein, abolt or other suitable means b being used to securely fasten both parts when properly adjusted to the required length. On the lever end of the shank I provide an eyelet or staple 16, through which or in which a ring 17 is secured, the said ring being for the purpose of slipping over the upper edge of the wire to hold the same in the jaws and prevent upward tension pulling it thereout. The opposite end of said shank may likewise be provided with a staple 8o 18 for the purpose of hanging or securingthe same to a post when usedin stretching fencewire.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows, to wit: In connecting the separate ends of a trolley-wire the severed ends are respectively secured in the jaws 2 and 3, and said. jaws being set in opposite directions tension comin g from opposite points has a tendency to close both sets of jaws upon the wire in 0 their grasp. The shank being extensible enables the workmen to connect the severed ends even if the same are reasonably widely apart. In stretching wire with my apparatus the wire being, as heretofore stated, secured 5 between the j awsi. e. the retaining-jaws located in the members or prongs, also in the jaws of the lever-the lever is then drawn to the left and has a tendency to pull on the wire in the direction in which the wire is free to Ice The upper end 60 rm AL:

move in said retention-jaws 4. Upon the reverse movement of the lever the lever-jaws are released on the wire, the retention-jaws then holding the same, and the movement of the lever is continued until the wire is sufficientl y stretched.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A wire-stretcher comprising a bar having upwardly-projecting members in which wire-graspingjaws are mounted, in combination with a lever the upper end of which is bifurcated and has mounted therein wirestretching jaws the said lever being pivotally connected to said bar between the upwardlyprojecting members thereon the said wiregrasping jaws carried by said lever being in alinement with the wire-grasping jaws mounted in the members of the bar.

2. In a wire-stretching device, a shank having on the ends thereof upwardly-projecting members in which wire grasping and retention jaws are mounted, and a guide 10- cated between said members, and means to prevent the wire pulling out in an upward direction of said jaws, in combination with a lever one end of which is bifurcated and pro vided with wire-grasping jaws mounted therein adapted to be brought into alinement with the jaws located in the members of said shank.

3. In a wire-stretching apparatus, a bar adapted to be extended or lengthened the ends of the same having upwardly-projecting members in which wire grasping and retention jaws are mounted, in combination with a lever one end of which is bifurcated and provided with wire-stretching jaws and adapted to be mounted in said shank in alinenient with I the jaws mounted in the members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 

